Like I shared in my post on 10 Living German Traditions in the Black Forest, this region in the South of Germany is famous for her natural resources and raw materials used in the glass industry. Glassblowing was -and still is- very important here, so during my visit to the town of Wolfach I couldn’t miss checking out one of the oldest glass works: the Dorotheenhütte.
At the Dorotheenhütte, you can walk through 2000 years of glass making history. From the museum to the actual factory and even a shop filled with mouth-blown glass Christmas ornaments, this is the place to be if you want to understand just how the process of glass blowing, carving and cutting works. And the best thing? You can even have a go yourself by helping to blow a unique vase.
In this video, I will take you behind the scenes and hope you enjoy this glass factory visit!
Glass Factory Visit Video
Glass Blowing at the Dorotheenhütte in Wolfach
Welcome to the Dorotheenhütte!
My own vase, check the video to see how it was made!
There is so much more made here than just vases:
There was even a whole Christmas market. Open all year!
My favourite ornament!
Yes, these are indeed gold-coated Christmas ornaments of 25-45 Euro PER PIECE.
Apparently in Germany, people used to hang a gherkin in their Christmas tree…
The glass museum gives you a great overview of the history of glass and glassblowing:
Very old Christmas ornaments, we have these at home too!
In the workplace of the glazier (who fixes broken glass), the glass carvers and glass cutters:
It’s hard work, but there is always time for some fun :)
Location: Dorotheenhütte, Glashüttenweg 4, 77709 Wolfach, Germany
Website: http://www.dorotheenhuette.info
Opening Hours:
- Glassworks/Glas Museum: 7 days a week (also public holidays): 9AM to 5PM (last entrance: 4.30PM)
- Glasblowing for visitors: daily 9AM to 5PM (last entrance: 4.30PM)
- Glass Country, Shops, Christmas Village: 7 days a week (also public holidays): 9AM to 5.30PM
Admission (without/with guided tour): 5/6 EUR for adults and 3/4 EUR for children up to 18 year (free under 6 years) + additional price per vase: 15,00 EUR
I hope you enjoyed the video, let us know what other types of factory you’d like to get a behind-the-scenes look of!
Disclaimer: I was invited by the German Tourism Office as part of the #JoinGermanTradition Blog Trip in June 2015, created and executed by iambassador in cooperation with the Dutch office of the German Tourism Authority. All photos, videos and experiences in this post are, like always, 100% my own.
